Went to Rocky Ford Saturday to see if the weeds had died off yet. Still very weedy and difficult to fish. Weather was good and I overdressed. Worked up a sweat below the old hatchery and not much water down there. Used to be my favorite section to fish but now is terrible, wish there was a way they could get more water down below like it was in the past.

Started a little below the lower bridge with a rainbow warrior in 16 and a flashback mayfly in 18. Three casts and caught a 16" RB on the rainbow warrior. Missed a couple more trying various spots so headed back to the truck. I was driving by the upper bridge and only saw one car in the lot just below the new hatchery so decided to give it a try. The people were fishing in the spot I wanted so crossed the bridge went up about a hundred feet. Had a tough time getting drag free drifts with the way the current is there. Switched RB warrior to a 16 scud, still trailed by an 18 mayfly. Made a decent cast on got the drift I wanted. Indicator went down so lifted the rod and then chaos! Fish goes berzerk, flying out of the water and racing up and dowstream. After a good fight, slid about a 23" RB through the weeds, popped the hook out and sent him on his way. Made the trip worth it, that fish was a hoot! Big one hit the 18 mayfly.

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